Body Composition: Weight Is Not The Only Measure Of Health

If you’re trying to get healthier through diet, exercise, or both, you need to become familiar with the term “body composition.” Understanding your own specific body composition can help you more accurately determine your weight loss goals and how to effectively achieve them.

A Quick Definition

Body composition is a way to describe what our bodies are made of, including protein, minerals, fat, and water. However, a discussion of body composition generally refers to the amount of muscle and fat on a particular body.

A recent article on InBodyUSA.com states, “Put simply, you’ve got to know your body composition if you are in any way serious about managing your weight and improving your quality of life. Without knowing what you’re actually made of, you can only guess at how much muscle and fat you actually have. Guessing leads to frustration, frustration leads to indifference, and indifference leads to quitting.”

Body Composition And Weight Loss

Being healthy is not just about deciding to lose a certain number of pounds. It’s about ensuring that your body as a whole is functioning effectively based on a number of factors, particularly the amount of body fat that works for you.

Another InBodyUSA article puts it this way. “If you just track weight, this invariably leads to comparing yourself to someone else. Even though there could be significant differences in height, muscle mass, genetics, or other factors, all people hear when they talk about or think about their weight is the number.”

Two people might weigh the same but have very different body compositions. One person might exercise regularly so the number on the scale is based on muscle mass; a more sedentary person’s weight will come from body fat. They weigh the same, but who is healthier?

“Your body fat percentage puts your weight into context, telling you far more about your yourself than how heavy you are,” says the article.

Targeted Programs

There’s no longer a “one size fits all” model of weight loss. It’s about knowing what works best for each individual’s body composition and what will maximize that person’s overall health.

At Why Weight, we measure your particular body composition and create targeted programs that aren’t necessarily based on reaching a particular weight but on how a specific diet and exercise plan will help you live a longer, healthier life.

For more practical tips and perspectives on how to make your weight loss goal lasting and successful, click here to watch Eliot’s latest free webinar: Let’s Talk Sugar and Water: Get Health Wise with WW Coach Eliot!